This is a frame I made for a Julie Leidel painting that my wife and I bought on our trip to the Craftsman Weekend in Pasadena this Fall. Julie is a kindhearted woman with an amazing artistic talent. The painting features an inspirational quote by Frank Lloyd Wright, and I think Julie did a fantastic job bringing the quote to life. I got a chance to meet Julie, as well as Yoshiko Yamamoto at the show. Yoshiko was already one of my favorite artists, and now Julie belongs in that category as well.

The frame itself features short tapers at the top of the stiles, and a Limbert inspired walnut inlay. Custom chocolate color solid matting and museum glass complete the frame.

Here is my arts and crafts style entertainment center in quartersawn white oak. It features spade shaped walnut inlays in the central doors. A trio of pegs adorns the top rail, and through tenons dress up the lower rail. Angled and shaped hardwood blocks conceal the wiring harness to the low voltage xenon lights.

Desk grommets allow component wiring to pass cleanly to the lower cabinet, and exit through access holes in the back panel.

The finish is a stain-over-dye technique, with a sprayed lacquer topcoat.

This is my Keyhole Mantel, so named for the walnut inlay modeled after an early 1900’s skeleton keyhole. I started with a Montauk black slate hearth, and added strong arts and crafts lines with quartersawn white oak. The posts are made with locking miter joints. If you’ve never had the occasion to use a locking miter bit I highly recommend them for strong, seamless joints. The inlay is from the nicest, darkest piece of walnut I have ever laid my hands on.

The panel is ‘frame and panel’ construction, and the whole unit slides into grooves in the posts. I thought that might be a good way to prevent visible gaps where the post meets the panel, and it worked just fine. The corbels are formed from solid 12/4 stock. Apparently 12/4 white oak is not a hot selling item, as it was buried under 6 full pallets in the back of a warehouse at my local hardwood retailer. I milled vertical dados in the panel for the corbels. Then I made a hardwood strip to fit the dado, and screwed it to the back of the corbels through slotted holes. This worked really slick because it securely registered the corbel during glueup, yet allowed adjustment in two directions. The corbel can slide up or down (hardwood strip slides in dado), or can tilt a bit thanks to the slotted screw holes. Basically it allowed me to pre-fit everything to make sure the corbels would meet the underside of the mantel beam, and that the corbels would sit plumb.

For trimming out the fireplace I considered buying pre-fab crown molding, however it can be difficult to find in white oak. Ultimately I decided to make a 3-piece crown molding set. It gave the mantel the traditional look of crown molding, but allowed me to finish the top of the posts a little easier. Two parts of the trim terminate at the post, while the small cove molding gets coped and continues to wrap around the post.

The fact that this is a corner fireplace added some complexity to the job. The top mantel board is a large triangle that had to be scribed to the walls. Actually I made a full-size template from scrap wood, and scribed that to fit the walls. Then I used the template to pattern rout the mantel top. The shoes that dress out the base of the posts were mitered to meet the wall, as were the cove moldings top and bottom. After the main components were installed, I think I counted 41 additional pieces of trim to install! The six walnut buttons are caps for 8” lag bolts that secure the mantel beam to the wall.

This whole project started because the old fireplace had some blue tape on it. Besides being a sad and plain little fireplace, apparently that blue tape really vexed my wife. Neither one of us could get it clean, so I declared “I can fix that” ...exit room to retrieve mini maul hammer…

Here are two frames made for Paul A. Lanquist prints. My wife designed and built the first one for the Portland Woodworking show, and took third place. I copied the design and built a second frame so we could have a matching pair for the bedroom.
The frames are made from quartersawn white oak with walnut inlays. The design echoes the “Wedge and Strap” backsplash detail on my bedroom furniture. Cheers!

I have always liked the style of these little Stickley side tables, and I finally had a chance to build a pair. For small, simple-looking tables they do have some nice joinery challenges. Half laps, through tenons, and lapped dovetails add to the fun. Any home has room for these tabouret tables, so if you admire the Stickley style as I do, I suggest you give it a whirl. Here is a discussion on the building techniques… http://lumberjocks.com/pintodeluxe/blog/42889Cheers!

This is my four drawer file cabinet made from white oak. The end assemblies feature double hardwood panels, split by a vertical stile. Drawer boxes are dovetailed and constructed with maple and cedar drawer bottoms. The large bottom drawers store hanging files on one side and 3-ring binders on the other. Drawers are hung on 100# ball bearing slides to handle the weight of the files. Cheers

Here is my two drawer arts and crafts desk in white oak. It features dovetailed drawers and hammered bail pulls. The construction is mortise and tenon with internal corbels for added strength. I made the upper rails from 5/4 stock and eliminated the web frames sometimes used on desks like this.

Here is my two rail bench, so-named because it has only two long rails instead of the typical 3 or 4 rail configuration. One side of the bench looks light and airy, with minimal visible support. Flip the bench to face the other way and it shows its craftsman nature with cleats passing through the long rail, reminiscent of bungalow rafters. The seats are made from 8/4 white oak planks, with quartersawn figure and plenty of character. The planks are held together with cleats and walnut butterfly inlays. The cleats feature fixed holes near the butterfly inlays, and slotted holes at the outer ends, to allow for wood movement, yet prevent damage to the inlays.Through tenons and walnut pegs add a finishing touch.

Finish is to be Howard’s Butcher block conditioner for a natural look.

Here is my Stickley slant arm Morris Chair. The chair is built to the original specifications of a #369, and is made from quartersawn white oak. The ladder back is curved, and made from solid 8/4 stock. The backrest is adjustable with a pair of oak pegs. I made an ottoman with double lower cross rails, so it is comfortable even if your feet are tucked under it.
There are two key challenges to a chair like this. The slanted arms create some angled joinery, and using laminated leg stock with no visible glue lines in the through tenons is a bit of a trick.
I made the cushions at a leather sewing class, which was a fascinating process. Information on making the leather cushions is available here… http://lumberjocks.com/pintodeluxe/blog/40450

This is my cherry refreshment table which features breadboard ends and a small dovetailed drawer. Secondary woods include poplar, aromatic cedar, and walnut pegs. The top drawer rail is attached with lapped dovetails, while the lower shelf is secured with tusk tenons. A hammered drawer pull completes the look.

This is a QSWO library desk I built for my son’s room. It is inspired by a Stickley library table, which I scaled down as a small desk. Most of the period A&C desks have a large lower shelf, however I modified the design for more leg room.
We found a board with a bullet lodged in it, and my son decided he wanted to incorporate it into the desk. The bullet is in an inconspicuous spot on the side apron (last photo), and he will have fun pointing it out to friends. The drawers are 14 degree dovetails, and feature aromatic cedar bottoms, and hidden compartments.
The desk features mortise and tenon construction with a lapped dovetail top rail. A walnut stain-over-dye finish and some hammered pulls complete the look.

My son needed a new twin sized bed, so we decided to build him a cherry trundle frame. It became a father and son project, and my wife helped a great deal as well. The headboard and footboard feature gently curved stiles, and solid cherry panel construction. A pair of xenon pucks offer just enough light for some evening reading, with a rocker switch mounted conveniently in the headboard. The trundle pulls out easily on 36” ball bearing slides, and six fixed casters offer additional support. The trundle box is built from poplar with dovetail construction. The trundle face panel looks like two drawers, and features hammered pulls. The bed accommodates two standard twin size mattresses. Through tenon details, and some walnut cross pegs complete the look. My construction blog offers some additional information here… http://lumberjocks.com/pintodeluxe/blog/38187Cheers!

Here is my arts and crafts style Wedge and Strap bed, named for the backsplash detail. It is designed to look like a wedge driven laterally to tighten a leather strap, but is actually a walnut inlay. The headboard and footboard feature angled stiles and solid frame and panel construction. The lower rails received a subtle arch, and the bed provides storage space in the dovetailed drawers.
While the inspiration for the bed was the wedge and strap design; the highlight is perhaps the central splat detail, inspired by a Kevin Rodel dining chair. It is brought to life via a xenon puck light and convenient rocker switch mounted in the headboard. Below the splat detail, heavy corbels support a small mid-shelf. Chamfered and cross-pegged through tenons round out the details on the footboard.
The side rails are attached with large mortise and tenon joints, and secured with two concealed bed bolts per leg. Read more about the specialty hardware and all the details in my 10 part construction blog here…
http://lumberjocks.com/pintodeluxe/blog/36876

Here are my arts and crafts nightstands in quartersawn red oak. They feature one small, over two large drawers with storage in mind. The lower assembly is built with through tenons and double walnut pegs. Drawers are dovetailed, with poplar and aromatic cedar used as secondary woods. Side panels are solid oak. Small corbels are let into grooves in the legs. Arched lower rails and hammered pulls complete the look.

This is an arts and crafts style library chair that I designed. My son Caden and I built it as a study chair for his room. It differs from my dining chairs by featuring arched side rails, instead of side slats. The lumber is quartersawn white oak that I buy locally and dry myself. The finish is Transtint Brown Mohogany dye, followed by Varathane Dark Walnut stain, and topcoated with sprayed lacquer. I buffed it out with Howards Walnut wax and #0000 steel wool. The finish is based on Jeff Jewitt’s original arts and crafts finish for a dictionary stand featured in Fine Woodworking Magazine. More finishing information and sample color board can be found here… http://lumberjocks.com/pintodeluxe/blog/35559

The upholstery is goat leather stretched over 2” foam and high-loft Dacron. Goat leather was selected because it is supple, yet amazingly strong. I was able to source it locally, and interestingly goat leather was the variety preferred by Gustav Stickley for his chairs. The two-part construction blog is here… http://lumberjocks.com/pintodeluxe/blog/35630

Here is my arts and crafts entertainment center, which is reminiscent of a Stickley sideboard. The design of the central splat detail gives a nod to Kevin Rodel. The backsplash features my “Wedge and Strap” detail, which is designed to look like a wedge driven laterally to tighten a leather strap. The detail is in fact a walnut inlay set into a shallow dado.
The unit is built with QSRO. The door panels and side panels are solid 1/2” stock. Drawers feature 14 degree dovetails and details can be found here… http://lumberjocks.com/pintodeluxe/blog/34094
Corbels let into grooves in the legs, through tenons, and hammered hardware complete the look. Construction details can be found on my blog here… http://lumberjocks.com/pintodeluxe/blog/34750

Here is my interpretation of an arts and crafts 6 drawer dresser. Although it shares some design features with the Harvey Ellis 9 drawer dresser and the Gustav Stickley #906, I added a wedge and strap detail on the tapered backsplash. It is designed to look like a leather strap tightened by a wedge driven laterally. The wedge and strap motif is actually a walnut inlay, set into a shallow dado.
My 11 part construction blog is located here… http://lumberjocks.com/pintodeluxe/blog/33913The 8th and 9th segments are particularly worth a look, and cover the 14 degree dovetails, and the wedge and strap inlay. Also look for the “no math” method of laying out drawer pulls toward the end of that series.
The dresser is constructed of solid QSRO, including the floating side panels. Drawer boxes are poplar with aromatic cedar bottoms. The drawers were sprayed with shellac, while the cedar was left raw. Meanwhile the carcase was lacquered and buffed to a satin sheen with Howards walnut wax and #0000 steel wool. Through tenons, walnut pegs, and subtle arches complete the look. I had so much fun, I made two.

Here is my frame for a “Calvos Passage” block print by Yoshiko Yamamoto. The frame is quartersawn white oak with walnut pegs. Yoshiko’s block printing process is fascinating, as she carves cherry wood to make the block. She then hand paints the block to achieve the distinct look.